Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-10
CHATTER LII.

open, SteadlaSt gray eyes ln'o VIC "O'
and dusty street.
If was the dead season in London
every one of consequence was ont oil
town. and therefore Aunt Eliza bad
received her annual invitation to come
up and DO her shopping.
and at that very momont the blne
waves were breaking with a long sweep
on the tawny sand at Saltwater, against
the pale azure of the sky gulls were
circling like moving specks OF silver,
and breczes that carried on their wings
faint saline odors from thu sea wero
whisperinground the walls Of her pretty
sitting-room and touching with fairy
fingers the many tasteful tribes gus
pended there.
At that moment home seemed to her
very dear and desirable, and yet she
was rosignedly sitting i'll town because
her relatives wished to be kind while
they were ashamed of her. Well. per
hars it was her own fault she leased
them, and therefore they protected
themselves in the best way they could.
But Aunt Eliza laughed secretly at
the thought that she was supposed to
delight in the small economy OF
making her purchases in the oif-soason.
Aunt Eliza did not need to purchase
leftover garments or Out-of-season
fabrics indeed. there was nothing in
the way of rational expenditure that
was beyond the means OF this prOSpe-
rous woman. 1t was really inconye-
nient TO her 10 come TO town now that
her busy season had begun, but eXpc-
riCnce had taught her that it is well
sometimes to yield to the wishes OF
others. even if their motives are not OF
the most exalted character. Her visit
would end in a few days, and then she
would 90 home, taking Mrs. Danyer
and hcrdaughtersw with herfoT the whole
Golden month Of Septembcr-lf Their
engagements with Mr.. Amherst per
mitlvd.
and then that previous feeling OF the
oGGuess of circumstances came back 10
her aoain, and this time it was tlnged
with the quecrest undercurrant Of pain.
Lionel Amherst had been little more
than dream figure TO her for years
and years, hut then ne was part oi the
one Golden dream of her life.
TO 1t woman like Eliza Danyer love
is all-sat,sfying, or it docs not exist for
her. 10 love and make allowances
would have been impossible to her. In
her ease love was verify blind, and the
blow which taught her to see clearly
killed her heart, or at least she
thought SO.
In after years she was able to think
that the loss of her fortune, since
Lionel amherst had failed her, was not
blessing in disguise, but il blessing
with it, name written on its forehead.
still this Lad not hindcrcd her specu-
lating Il good deal at the first IA to the
after consequences, had Oakdene still
been hers.
If money was SO important, if toown
or lose it placed a lie in sunshine Or in
shadow. then She would be rich. So
sheresolvcd at the first, and the realiza-
ton of her ambition, rs SO often hap
pens. killed the pain that had first stung
ambition into life.
And now, after all these years. she
was to meet her boy-loycr again. Curl
Gus that she could think of him only as
10y, when She had grown 50 mature,
ard serene, and satisfied.
Tut he was a man now, midjle-aged
even, and he was going to marry Jea-
sie, her niece.
Jessie was older now than she hal
been in that golden summertime when
he had loved her Half a dozen scenes
from that old romance rose dreamily
before Ler, and somehow she found she
was blusling as she looked on them.
lien she laughed audibly, struck 10y
Whimsical sense Of contrast. lie loved
Jessie ROW, and Jessie very much
wished her not to speak to HIM Of tn
hotel
Wen, she would not it would b.
hard il his affections should be dis
turbcd again 10y the incidents OF her
history. and that made her remem-
her that, in this instance al least, ms
affection was disintcrested. But h.
was Iicn now; Clara hai said so, and,
Of course. that permitted % Iii i-rcnca
in Lis course Of action. Perhaps /, BE-
had Lad possession Of his own lon {
ago lie would not have lied from her
wh,n disaster overlook her.
This thought drew flint sigh from
bar, and in sOftcncd mood She went
down Stairs and soon became quite her
so.f again over preparations for the
evening. She had "a talent for culina-
~ work, and liked nothing better than
to wear big apron and concoct little
dishes or polish the table appliances.
I've must have everything plain an
good, She said to the cook, with her
pleasant smile ambition on oeca-
siCus like this is ruinOus, and besides
gentlemen are not so very fond OF kick
shavs, so good and plain must be our
motto. One Of the young ladies' will
90 ont and buy some flowers. / shall
set the table in the Gining-room. an |
among us We shall have splendid re-
suits"
While the bill Of fare was under con-
sideration Jessie came down to prepare
afternoon tea, and the aunt AMI niece
grew quite interested over plans for the
evening, while they discussed their tel
and toast, but neither of them referred
TO Mr.. Amherst in any way, unless
their preparations were continuous
reference.
Aunt Eliza was rather tired when she
went up to her own room, and she set
down to read in the easy-chalr by tine
window, and then Clara brought her Il
little bouquet OF crimson carnations
which Jessie had sent.
Clara was already dressed, and was
amazed that Aunt Eliza had not even
begun her toilet. Clara looked very
grlish and pretty in frock OF white
yelling, with forget me-nots as
blue rs her eyes among the lace on her
breast.
at is nice to be young" Aunt Eliza
said, and sighed again; for the first
time for years vague feeling OF dis
content was stirring at her heart.
Yet, regarded simply as a human
creature, she was more attractive than
either of her nieces, and perhaps some
thought Of that kind came 10 her as she
brushed out her thicG dark hair aud
twisted it into the coil that she wore
low on her neck, regardless of the die
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